FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

Evangelical leaders and pastors from across the political spectrum call Christians everywhere to pray for peace on the Korean Peninsula Evangelical Call to Prayer for Peace on the Korean Peninsula March 27, 2018
As American Christians with diverse approaches to force and nonviolence and yet all committed to pursuing peaceful relations among people and nations, we unite in prayer for permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. We do this mindful of the millions of lives, including more than 230,000 Americans, that would be threatened by an escalation of conflict there.

We are heartened by proposals for dialogue between our national leaders at a time when increasing tensions seemed to be marching our countries perilously in the direction of greater conflict, if not war. We call on all Christians everywhere to join us in praying for a just and peaceful resolution.
We pray for wisdom for our political, diplomatic and military leaders as they work across differences toward a goal of peace, security and freedom. We pray that God will bless the efforts of citizens who seek to bridge the vast differences between our countries.

Decades of people-to-people contact between North Korea and the United States- through business, educational and other humanitarian exchanges – have put a human face on those who are sometimes characterized by one another as enemies. So, we pray with empathy and in a spirit of friendship, noting the image of God in every human being. However profound the differences between our governments, we do not view the North Korean people as our enemies. On the contrary, we desire only the best for the people of North Korea.

Most of the nearly two million Korean-Americans are Christians, and many belong to evangelical churches. This community too has contact with North Koreans through humanitarian and family ties. South Korea is also home to many evangelical churches, including some of the world’s largest. Many of these Korean brothers and sisters have been praying for North Korea for years and we humbly join them. These connections with Koreans in North Korea, South Korea and the United States strengthen our resolve to seek God for mercy and, so far as it depends on us, to pursue peace between our respective countries.

Sincerely,

Leith Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals
Hyepin Im, President/CEO & Founder, Faith and Community Empowerment
Dr. John P Hartley Chair, Evangelicals for Peace
Rev. Johnnie Moore, Founder, The Kairos Company

Joined by (alphabetical)*

Nikki Toyama-Szeto Executive Director Evangelicals for Social ActionOnleilove Alston, Founder, Prophetic Whirlwind: Uncovering the Black Biblical Destiny
Rollie Anderson, President, Anderson Trucking Service
Scott Arbeiter, President, World Relief
Jay Barnes, President, Bethel University
Scott Bessenecker, Director of Missions, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
Darrell L. Bock, Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary, Executive Director for Cultural Engagement, Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership and Cultural Engagement
Vernon Brewer, Founder, World Help
J Ron Byler, Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Pastor J Edgar Boyd, Sr. Minister & CEO, First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, CA
Vernon Burger II, Founder, His Voice Global
Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
Galen Carey, Vice-President for Government Relations, National Association of Evangelicals
Noel Castellanos, President, Christian Community Development Association
Peter T. Cha, Professor of Church, Culture, and Society, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Eugene Cho, Senior Pastor, Quest Church
James Cho, English Track Director, Grace Mission University, Board Chair, ByGrace Trust, President, Great Commission Research Network
James Chen, Executive Director, Institute for Global Engagement
Bishop Ronnie Crudup, Sr., Administrative Bishop for the Fellowship of International Churches, Chief Bishop for the Mid- South Diocese and Senior Pastor of New Horizon Church International
Alan Cureton, President, University of Northwestern
Adam Estle, President, Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding
Margaret Feinberg, author and speaker, Transparent Faith, Inc.
Bishop Todd H. Fetters, Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA
Dr. Ronnie Floyd, President of the National Day of Prayer
Pastor Jentezen Franklin, Senior Pastor, Free Chapel
Micah Fries, Senior Pastor, Brainerd Baptist Church
David Gibbons, Lead Pastor, Newsong, Founder, XEALOTS.ORG
Dr. Jack Graham, Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church
Timothy Haahs, Lead Pastor, Calvary Vision Church in Blue Bell, PA
Bishop Grant Hagiya, Resident Bishop of the Los Angeles and Hawaii Area of the United Methodist Church
Lisa Sharon Harper, Founder and President, Freedom Road, LLC
Kyle Healy, Pastor & Global Field Manager, Willow Creek Community Church
L. Randall Heckert, Ministry Director of Leadership Development and Multiplication, Evangelical Friends Church – Eastern Region
Mitch Hescox, President, Evangelical Environmental Network
Dennis P. Hollinger, President, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
John Hopler, Director, Great Commission Churches, National Office
Jon Huckins, Co-founder, Global Immersion Project
Rev. Peter J. Hwang, Pastor, The First Korean Baptist Church of Philadelphia, President, The Friendship Council of U.S.A.
Bishop Harry Jackson, Bishop and Senior Pastor, Hope Christian Church
Pastor Allen Jackson, Sr., Pastor, World Outreach Church Steve Jones, President, TheMissionary Church
Kathy Khang, Board member, Evangelicals for Social Action
Rev. Chongho James Kim, Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church of Flushing, New York, Advisor, UMC Korea Peace Committee
Jamie Kim, Director, Reah International
Dr. Patrick Kraft, Orthopedic Surgeon
Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, President and Professor of Hebrew Bible, Claremont School of Theology
Sarah Withrow King, Deputy Director, Evangelicals for Social Action
Pastor Greg Laurie, Senior Pastor, Harvest Christian Fellowship
Hak Joon Lee, Lewis B. Smedes Professor of Christian Ethics, Fuller Theological Seminary
Rick Love, President & Co- founder, Peace Catalyst International
Rev Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, Ambassador General and Superintendent Emerita, The Wesleyan Church
Carl Medearis, Author, Speaking of Jesus
Eric Metaxas, Author, Speaker, and Radio Host
Russell D. Moore, President, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
Jim Mullins, Pastor, Redemption Church, Co-Director, Surge Network
Rev. Mark M. Nakagawa, West District Superintendent, California-Pacific Conference, The United Methodist Church
Rich Nathan, Senior Pastor, Vineyard Columbus
Terry Palmberg, Retired Business Executive
Deborah Pegues, Author
J. Nick Pitts, Executive Director of the Institute for Global Engagement at Dallas Baptist University, Author, The Daily Briefing
Soong-Chan Rah, Milton B. Engebretson Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism, North Park University
Mark Reddy, CEO, The Justice Conference
Vickie Reddy, Executive Producer, The Justice Conference
John Robb, Chairman, International Prayer Council
Bob Roberts, Senior Pastor, Northwood Church
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Senior Pastor of New Season Christian Worship Center
Philip Ryken, President, Wheaton College
Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero, President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition, Pastor, Calvario City Church
Ron Sider, Founder and President Emeritus, Evangelicals for Social Action (ESA)
Mark Siljander, Co-Founder, Trac5
Dr. Jay Strack, Founder, Student Leadership University
Rev. Tony Suarez, Executive Vice President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
Stephanie Summers, CEO, Center for Public Justice
Don Sweeting, President, Colorado Christian University
Jer Swigart, Co-founder, Global Immersion Project
Aaron Daniel Taylor, Producer, We Know Not What We Do Joseph Tkach, President, Grace
Communion International Miroslav Volf, Professor, Yale Divinity School
Rev. Jim Wallis, President & Founder, Sojourners
Sealy Yates, Chairman, My Faith Votes and Founder of Yates and Yates
Josh Williams, Lead Pastor, Elm City Vineyard Church
Dr. Sophie C. Wong, President/CEO, Chinese For Christ, Chinese For Christ Calvin Chao Theological Seminary
Jeanette Yep, Pastor, Global and Regional Engagement, Grace Chapel
Robert Zachritz, Vice President, World Vision
* Affiliations listed for identification purposes only